Compliment or racisim?

DazDevine · 13/04/13 - 02:39

I'm just looking for views & opinions on a debate I'm having. If a Caucasian Scotsman, like myself, were to compliment an African-American (for example) on the tone of their skin eg, I love you skin tone, would that be considered as a compliment or would it be perceived as racisim?

Mick_Swagger · 13/04/13 - 02:40

Well it wouldn't be racist would it?

Aneechik · 13/04/13 - 02:40

You don't have to pretend someone isn't black to not be racist.

AnitaS · 13/04/13 - 02:41

I doubt it, it's only like complimenting someone on their tan.

Lyricalis · 13/04/13 - 02:45

DazDevine wrote: »

I'm just looking for views & opinions on a debate I'm having. If a Caucasian Scotsman, like myself, were to compliment an African-American (for example) on the tone of their skin eg, I love you skin tone, would that be considered as a compliment or would it be perceived as racisim?

I think if it's a bloke you're trying to compliment they might feel a tad uncomfortable.

Personally, if someone said that to me I'd be worried they wanted to make me into a jacket or something. I guess I never got over watching Silence of the Lambs.

SugarNSpice · 13/04/13 - 02:45

It's a compliment of course! I don't see how saying you LOVE a person's skin tone is racist.

Dr. Claw · 13/04/13 - 02:45

AnitaS wrote: »

I doubt it, it's only like complimenting someone on their tan.

um not really no

although thread starter no i wouldnt think that is racist

sweh · 13/04/13 - 02:46

It's a compliment.
There's a fine line between a compliment, racism and ignorance/being a complete dumbass.

People always feel the need to comment on my colouring. I don't take it offensively.
However, I do feel a little weirded out whenever people tell me I'm too light-skinned to be from the West Indies. That gets my back up against a wall.

Sometimes I'm tempted to say "Nice pallid complexion you're rocking there, are you allergic to the sun?" but I don't.

AnitaS · 13/04/13 - 02:48

I'm not white and I don't take offence if people compliment me on my skin tone.

Jane Doh! · 13/04/13 - 02:51

Of course it isn't racist.

[Deleted User] · 13/04/13 - 02:57

Aneechik wrote: »

You don't have to pretend someone isn't black to not be racist.

^this

Racism is negative DISCRIMINATION based on race. Recognising, and embracing the colour of a persons skin (what ever it may be) is not racism.

bbnutnut · 13/04/13 - 02:57

DazDevine wrote: »

I'm just looking for views & opinions on a debate I'm having. If a Caucasian Scotsman, like myself, were to compliment an African-American (for example) on the tone of their skin eg, I love you skin tone, would that be considered as a compliment or would it be perceived as racisim?

If you thought it and said it to every single African person then it might be seen as a preference for a certain type of skin colouring. If you only thought it and said it about some Africans' skin then it's just liking some people's skin tone. If it was the only thing you ever liked about Africans it would be a little odd and could come across as racist.

[Deleted User] · 13/04/13 - 02:57

DazDevine wrote: »

I'm just looking for views & opinions on a debate I'm having. If a Caucasian Scotsman, like myself, were to compliment an African-American (for example) on the tone of their skin eg, I love you skin tone, would that be considered as a compliment or would it be perceived as racisim?

Slightly off subject but: I was looking after an Afro/White lad of 13 Years. His social worker constantly went on and on about allowing this boy have access to his 'african culture' after a few months of this I felt obliged to mention that although he was 'Black' he also had a White British Mother so was entitled to follow his White British Culture too if he so wished. I was effectively letting the social worker know he was inadvertantly being racist in saying that this by was onething when infact he was the sum of two cultures and colours.

[Deleted User] · 13/04/13 - 03:08

It's not racist

[Deleted User] · 13/04/13 - 03:34

Bibidybobidyboo wrote: »

^this

Racism is negative DISCRIMINATION based on race. Recognising, and embracing the colour of a persons skin (what ever it may be) is not racism.

We need to have this post made into a 'sticky'.

DazDevine · 13/04/13 - 03:36

Thanks for your input. I was on the side of compliment. I also used complimenting an olive-skinned Italian and a fair-skinned Scot as examples and my co-debator also insisted that this was racist. They couldn't grasp that complimenting people on their racial features isn't the same as discriminating people for for their racial features.I understand that it would ultimately depend on the person its was said to and in which context but was just wanting a general idea as to how it would be perceived.

U96 · 13/04/13 - 03:37

It's black or white.None of this caucasian pish.

sweh · 13/04/13 - 03:40

DazDevine wrote: »

Thanks for your input. I was on the side of compliment. I also used complimenting an olive-skinned Italian and a fair-skinned Scot as examples and my co-debator also insisted that this was racist. They couldn't grasp that complimenting people on their racial features isn't the same as discriminating people for for their racial features.I understand that it would ultimately depend on the person its was said to and in which context but was just wanting a general idea as to how it would be perceived.

Out of curiosity, what race is the opponent?

Never heard it described as co-debater before. I'm used to Affirmative and Negative.

DazDevine · 13/04/13 - 03:41

My olive skinned girlfriend!

Addisonian · 13/04/13 - 03:41

Not racist in the slightest

sweh · 13/04/13 - 03:43

DazDevine wrote: »

My olive skinned girlfriend!

lol olive skin isn't even a race!

Gawd, no wonder she thinks you're racist. You can't differentiate between aesthetic characteristics and race!

macsmurray · 13/04/13 - 03:43

DazDevine wrote: »

My olive skinned girlfriend!

So if you said to your girlfriend that one of the things that attracted you to her was her skin tone, she would call you racist?

Also, what's the deal with olive skin? I'm described as olive skinned but I sure as hell aint green and shiny.

Susan_A1951 · 13/04/13 - 03:44

After 50 years - this is still rumbling on.

OK - the definition of a non racist...is being asked to describe someone as wearing jeans, a hoodie and a red scarf. Racist: a black guy in a red scarf.

Can we not finally be colour blind? If you are born in England and educated in England and work or at least try in England -what the heck does the colour of your skin matter?

I am a sort of pinkish colour and spots. So what - does it matter?

macsmurray · 13/04/13 - 03:45

Susan_A1951 wrote: »

After 50 years - this is still rumbling on.

OK - the definition of a non racist...is being asked to describe someone as wearing jeans, a hoodie and a red scarf. Racist: a black guy in a red scarf.

Can we not finally be colour blind? If you are born in England and educated in England and work or at least try in England -what the heck does the colour of your skin matter?

I am a sort of pinkish colour and spots. So what - does it matter?

Mr Blobby? :eek:

jojo01 · 13/04/13 - 03:47

macsmurray wrote: »

Also, what's the deal with olive skin? I'm described as olive skinned but I sure as hell aint green and shiny.

Don't forget black and shiny ones!

I'm also olive skinned but I'm not green, black or shiny!

Susan_A1951 · 13/04/13 - 03:47

macsmurray wrote: »

Mr Blobby? :eek:

You outed me! :eek:

Hey there!

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